Monday, September 19, 2005 fire crews from Suffolk, VA were taken from their evening meals for a reported overturned truck on Rt 58, one of Suffolk's heavily traveled thoroughfares.
The call was reported at the entrance to the cities regional landfill which services all cities in the Hampton Roads area.
Battalion 1 arrived and established command of a side dump tractor trailer carrying soil to the regional landfill overturned on its roof with the driver entrapped.
Fire companies from Station 1 and 3 worked diligently to free the driver who was semi-alert during the extrication.
Teamwork and experience played a role in the 13 minute rescue. Ladder 3 and Squad 1, two of the cities four extrication trucks, worked together along with Engine 3 to stabilize the vehicle with air shores and long timbers and to remove the victim from the truck.
The regional trauma helicopter Nightingale, based out of Norfolk Sentara was requested due to the severity of the accident and landed at the Hampton Roads airport, approximately one mile from the accident scene.
Crews remained on scene while the truck was overturned and turned the scene over to accident investigators.
